The Nelson's Sparrow breeds in three distinct areas of Canada: saltmarshes along the coast of Quebec and the Maritime provinces, coastal marshes in southern Hudson's Bay and James Bay, and grassy marshes across the prairie province. The Canadian population has experienced a relatively steady increase since the early 1970s. With more than 80% of the world's breeding population, Canada has a very high responsibility for this species' conservation. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Nelson's Sparrows are know to hybridize with Saltmarsh Sparrows, this along with the changing coastal habitat caused by climate change may affect how both species respond to rising sea levels and extreme weather (Shriver et al. 2016). The major threat facing the Nelson's Sparrow in Canada, particularly in the Atlantic region, is the loss of the large, undisturbed areas of marshy habitats that they require for successful nesting (Erskine 1992, Shaffer et al. 1990, Shriver et al. 2011).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
